Ben came to Tech a year ago hoping to find a spot on the squad, and heads into the 2013 season as a solid challenger for the long snapper role as a junior...played two seasons at Minnesota State-Crookston before heading to Cookeville.

AT TECH (In 2012): Ben joined the team early in the 2012 season after an on-campus walk-on tryout...watched the first few Golden Eagle games from the stands awaiting for the tryout...impressed the staff enough to earn a spot on the roster but did not appear in any games.

BEFORE TECH: Played two seasons as a long snapper at Minnesota State-Crookston...one of his two head coaches was former Golden Eagle lineman Andrew Higgins.

PERSONAL: The son of David and Kelly Viaene...(pronounced vee-en)...full name is Benjamin David Viaene...born March 30, 1992, in Appleton, Wis...father played in the NFL with the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers...majoring in agriculture engineering.